Federal Housing Policy – Let Your Voice Be Heard

Federal Housing Policy – Let Your Voice Be Heard

After the President’s proposed budget was released, several people asked – How can I get involved and what can I do to support affordable housing and community development?

Affordable housing and community development needs your support and voice, now more than ever. Critical federal resources may be significantly reduced or completely eliminated under the current proposal. The $6.2 billion (13.2% reduction) proposed cut to HUD in FY 2018 would eliminate the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), Section 4 Capacity Building for Affordable Housing and Community Development and the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program. Also proposed for elimination is the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund as well as agencies such as NeighborWorks America, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

In Miami-Dade, these cuts would further reduce the ability to develop or preserve affordable housing, assist small businesses and microenterprises, serve children and the elderly on fixed incomes, make infrastructure improvements and more. There are 7 entitlement jurisdictions that receive a direct allocation of CDBG funds from the federal government,(Miami-Dade County, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, North Miami, Hialeah, Homestead). In the 2016 program year, their combined CDBG allocation of funding totaled over $21 million – an amount that already isn’t enough.

Behind these numbers are actual stories of people and communities being helped. These stories must be shared.

Member organization, Enterprise Community Partners, has provided suggestions and guidance on how to stay informed and take action on federal housing policy.

Call, write or (meet) with your Members of Congress. See Enterprise’s blog for contact information. You can contact your federal Senators and Representatives via their contact pages as well. Not sure who your Rep is? Find your Representative here.

Write a letter to your local paper or use social media to advocate for federal investments in housing and community development. Find sample articles and tweets from CHCDF.

We will keep updating this blog with more information. Please continue to voice your support for investing in affordable housing and community development.

We encourage you to join or renew your membership in SFCDC, stay connected, and meet organizations and people in other sectors that are also working to improve the quality of life for the residents of Miami-Dade. Let’s work together to save these programs and increase funding.

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About SFCDC

South Florida Community Development Coalition (SFCDC) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to building communities and developing assets in Miami-Dade County. We achieve these goals through expanding the capacity of community development practitioners to develop affordable housing and economic opportunities.